James D. Smillie and Smillie family papers, 1853-1957

This site provides access to the James D. Smillie and Smillie family papers in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2012. The papers have been scanned in their entirety, and total 9,432 images.

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Series 1: James David Smillie papers, 1853-1917

4.5 linear feet

Boxes 1-7

The James David Smillie papers consist of correspondence, personal business records, 45 daily diaries spanning 1865-1909, a scrapbook of clippings, printed materials, and artwork.

The series is arranged as 6 subseries.

1.1: Correspondence, 1850-1905

1.2: Personal Business Records, 1863-1909

1.3: Diaries, 1865-1909

1.4: Scrapbook, circa 1850s-1900

1.5: Printed Material, 1865-1917

1.6: Artwork, circa 1879

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

1.1:Correspondence, 1850-1905

The bulk of this subseries is comprised of correspondence with artists and colleagues including Albert Bierstadt, Frederick Stuart Church, Samuel Coleman, Charles Henry Hart, and Eastman Johnson. There are three pieces of personal correspondence to his wife, Anna, and from his father and uncle, Charles Smillie.

There are forty-five volumes of daily diaries in which Smillie describes his paintings, drawings and prints, and references over 200 artists with whom he was acquainted. Loose items originally filed within the diaries include letters, notes, sketches, a silhouette, calling cards, receipts, printed material, and a photo of Smillie, among many other items.

See Appendix for a list of artists mentioned in the diaries from Series 1.3.

Found are scattered printed materials including exhibition catalogs for James D. Smillie, clippings, reproductions of works of art, and miscellanous art publications. Of note are advertisement circulars for engravings of Abraham Lincoln by William E. Marhsall and of

President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation Before the Cabinet

by F. B. Carpenter. Also found is a publishing proposal for a work by Bierstadt.

Make a Request

To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.

To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.

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